[Write 2–4 sentences summarising your professional background, key skills, and career goals.]
[Degree] — [University], [City] — [Year]
Singapore hiring puts work-pass status front and centre, with English as the working language of application documents. This page covers local conventions and how to complete the printable template on this page.
The document is a CV or resume, written in English — the working language of hiring — and kept to one to two pages, reverse chronological with month and year. Personal details are more complete than Western practice: name, contact, date of birth and nationality are commonly included, and the single most important line for international candidates is your work pass status — Employment Pass, S Pass, Work Permit, One Pass, PR — stated plainly, because it determines what sponsorship questions the employer must ask. No photo is needed for most roles; a professional headshot remains acceptable for some traditional and client-facing positions but is not expected in modern hiring.
English proficiency is assumed rather than listed — spend that space on results instead. A cover letter is optional for portal applications but expected for finance, professional services and MNC roles where a recruiter reads it directly. References are given "on request"; never publish referees' contact details on a document that may be posted on job boards.
Replace every [bracketed placeholder]: start with the name and contact line, then add nationality and work pass status in the header — the details a Singapore recruiter looks for first. Rewrite the summary so it states your target role and pass position in plain terms, then turn the sample bullets into numbers-backed achievements. Fill skills with terms from the advertisement and set references to "available on request". Press Print / Save as PDF — A4 is pre-set — and save as FirstName_LastName_CV.pdf. For an editable version to reuse per application, the resume builder keeps the same structure.
Yes — name the exact pass you hold (Employment Pass, S Pass, One Pass, PR) or state that sponsorship is required. It is the standard first-question filter in Singapore hiring, and a clear line lets the employer assess feasibility before the interview rather than after it.
Not for most roles. Modern Singapore hiring follows the no-photo convention, especially in MNCs and tech. Traditional local firms and some client-facing roles still accept a professional headshot — include one only when the employer or advertisement indicates it.
One to two pages. One for early-career roles, two for experienced hires. Longer documents rarely survive first-pass screening unless the ad explicitly requests a detailed profile.
Optional for online portal applications, but expected for finance, consulting, professional services and MNC roles where a recruiter reads it. When in doubt — or when the ad asks — send one page explaining why this employer and role.